North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has ordered his government to be prepared for both dialogue and confrontation with the Biden administration – but more for confrontation, state media reported, days after the United States and others have urged the North to abandon its nuclear program and return to talks.
Kim’s statement indicates he’ll likely push to strength his nuclear arsenal and increase pressure on Washington to give up what North Korea considers a hostile US policy, though he’ll also prepare for talks to resume, some experts say.
During an ongoing ruling party meeting on Thursday, Kim analysed in detail the policy tendencies of the US under President Joe Biden and clarified unspecified steps to be taken in relations with Washington, the Korean Central News Agency said.
Kim “stressed the need to get prepared for both dialogue and confrontation, especially to get fully prepared for confrontation in order to protect the dignity of our state and its interests for independent development and to reliably guarantee the peaceful environment and the security of our state.”
In 2018-19, Kim held a series of summits with then-President Donald Trump to discuss his advancing nuclear arsenal.
But their negotiations fell apart after Trump rejected Kim’s calls for extensive sanctions relief in return for a partial surrender of his nuclear capability.
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